Based on the first book in the trilogy of young-adult books by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games is set in the dystopian future of North America, now called Panem. The Capitol selects two tributes, a boy and a girl, from each of the 12 districts to fight to the death- all for entertainment played out on live television.

For the 74th annual Hunger Games, 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) needs to fight for her life against 23 others. The sequel, Catching Fire, has already been announced for November 2013, and the lead actors have all signed on to star in future installments of the franchise.

Why you should see it?

Since the insanely popular Harry Potter movies have concluded, other franchises have attempted to fill that void. The Golden Compass and Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief both fell short, so The Hunger Games just may be the necessary competition.

The Hunger Games Must-Knows

The book series remained on the New York Times Bestseller list for 100 consecutive weeks and sold over 800, 000 copies in two years

The budget for the first film is an estimated $78 million

Jennifer Lawrence was up against other young starlets such as Emma Roberts, Chloe Grace Moretz, and Abigail Breslin

Canadian actor, Donald Sutherland, is portraying President Snow

Soundtrack will include songs from Canadian indie rockers Arcade Fire and a band that ‘Moves Like Jagger’, Maroon 5

Film will not be as graphic as the books, even blurring some of the bloody ends met by the tributes to save the PG-13 rating

Fashion seen in The Capitol will feature designers like Alexander McQueen, LaQuan Smith, Viktor & Rolf along with makeup by Dior

Expand your Hunger Games knowledge

These websites will provide you with interesting facts to prepare you for what some critics and avid movie fans are estimating to be the ‘movie event of the year.’